Volunteering Abroad

full-time post-graduation opportunities

sage advice

Paid "volunteer" positions? When an opportunity is described as "volunteer", this does not necessarily mean that you will be expected to cover all your expenses. Many volunteer positions offer room and board (and possibly a small stipend) in exchange for your services.

Some international service opportunities, such as the Earthwatch digs and expeditions, are run as educational experiences and can involve a fee paid by you, the participant. If you can afford these, don't overlook them, as they are often well-run and can provide an exciting introduction to international experience.


Why volunteer?

In many parts of the world, particularly in "developing" countries, paid work opportunities are very hard to come by. Volunteering with a service agency is often your best opportunity for a challenging and rewarding work experience. Eventually, your experience as a volunteer may lead to paid overseas work opportunities or responsible positions in the U.S. with nonprofit organizations or governmental agencies.


When should you start looking?

Early! Earlier than you think! Finding the right opportunity and, in particular, making contacts with people and organizations abroad can take many months. To secure a volunteer position beginning in the summer, you should start early the previous fall (though if you are reading this during the winter or spring, plenty of opportunities may still be available).

Great advice on the Web
We highly recommend this Web site from the University of Michigan International Center, which provides extensive advice and numerous links to organizations offering volunteer abroad opportunities. 

databases of international volunteer opportunities
  • Online databases of full-time, post-graduate volunteer opportunities
    This includes BC's database of over 80 organizations, many of which offer short-term and long-term international opportunities.
  • BC's Volunteer Fair in the Fall is a good place to meet representatives from a number of volunteer organizations. Though most of these opportunities are in the U.S., the fair is a great way to speak with representatives, many of whom have spent years as volunteers. Check our Events & Workshops calendar in the fall.
  • Online Work Abroad Information Database
    An easy-to-use database providing a broad array of volunteer & work abroad resources from the University of Minnesota.
  • Best Bets for Volunteering Abroad
    University of California at Irvine provides a good collection of links to organizations that place Americans and others in volunteer positions abroad.
  • Idealist.org
    A small listing of worldwide internship and volunteer opportunities (primarily unpaid) with nonprofit organizations. These items are listed by the participating organizations themselves.
  • Interaction
    A coalition of over 150 nonprofit organizations working worldwide, Interaction is the leading U.S. advocate for humanitarian assistance to the world's poor. Not an actual program or job, but rather a good guide to volunteer work in the humanitarian sector.
  • Projects Abroad
    The leading organizer of volunteer placements across five continents. Offers a diverse range of teaching, care, conservation, medical, journalism and work experience projects, plus the opportunity to become part a local community overseas. These are fee paying programs.
international volunteer programs

  • Peace Corps
    The Peace Corps recruits on-campus each year through the BC Career Center. While the need has remained for Volunteers to work in agriculture, education, forestry, health, engineering, and skilled trades, countries are increasingly requesting help in new areas: business, the environment, urban planning, youth development, and the teaching of English for commerce and technology. Volunteers serve in over 90 countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Central and Eastern Europe, and the former Soviet Union. 
  • Service Civil International 
    Provides short term volunteer experiences of 2-3 weeks in workcamps in the United States and around the world, as well as long term volunteer opportunities. Volunteers pay a small fee ($80 in the United States, $195 for overseas workcamps) and their travel costs, and are provided with meals and a place to stay. *Note: the word "workcamp" is used as a synonym for community service project*
  • Volunteers for Peace International Voluntary Service
    Similar program to Service Civil International. VFP organizes over 3400 2-3 week workcamps in over 100 countries worldwide. There are many types of work available because projects arise from grassroots local community needs. A $250 registration fee covers most projects except those taking place in developing countries. A VFP membership fee of $30 is also required for placement. The registration fee covers food, accommodations and work materials for the duration of the project. Volunteers arrange and pay for their own transportation to and from each project.
  • Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) 
    A British service organization that offers 1-2 year volunteer placements for experienced professionals age 20-75, in over 30 developing countries primarily in Africa and Asia. Volunteers are provided with a living allowance, accommodation, insurance and flights.
resources @ the career center library
  • International Workcamp Directory - Volunteers for Peace 
    A listing of over 3,000 adventures in 100 countries, all of which are low cost opportunities.   
  • International Voluntary Work
    Thousands of voluntary placements worldwide, includes sections on residential work worldwide and non-residential work in the UK and US.  
  • Green Volunteers: The World Guide to Voluntary Work in Nature Conservation
    The world's leading source of conservation volunteering opportunities; lists almost 200 projects and organizations through which volunteers can work - without previous experience - year round, in a variety of unusual locations on five continents.
  • Health Professionals Abroad: A Directory of Worldwide Opportunities
    Lists numerous paid and volunteer opportunities.
  • Alternative Travel Directory: The Complete Guide to Work, Study and Travel Overseas
    Includes an extensive list of volunteer opportunities. Produced by "Transitions Abroad" magazine.
  • Volunteer Vacations: Short-Term Adventures That Will Benefit You and Others
    This guide shows you how a short term-volunteer stint can transform your life as much as the people, animals, and ecology you choose to help. This fully updated eighth edition profiles more than 200 organizations and thousands of opportunities in the United States and around the world.  
preparing for your time abroad

  • Ideally, you will have been learning a foreign language.
  • In addition, learn everything you can about the country in which you hope to spend your time. You will save yourself a lot of trouble, and you will be much better prepared to be of service to your hosts.
  • The Career Resource Library has some books on intercultural differences and adapting to a new culture.
  • If you can, speak to people who have previously interned or volunteered with the organization, or with current interns and volunteers.
  • Web resources to help you prepare for your trip abroad
resources for returned volunteers

Alumni organizations - some volunteer organizations have very active alumni organizations, including:

  • The Peace Corps
    Has a very extensive web page for returned volunteers, which includes links to their "alumni groups" around the country.
  • Americorps Alumni page
  • Jesuit Volunteer Corps
    Has an alumni listserv, but it looks like they don't check to see if you are actually an alum.
  • The Pallotti Center
    • Staying Connected - a quarterly publication designed for alumni of faith-based volunteer programs. In each issue, they tackle a topic of interest to the former volunteer community.
    • Former Volunteer Job Bank - provides former volunteers with employment leads and contacts, especially within the non-profit sector.